1
as in avoiding
to get or keep away from (as a responsibility) through cleverness or trickery
you always try to shirk paying your fair share of the bill by claiming you "forgot" your wallet
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in neglecting
to leave undone or unattended to especially through carelessness
a deadbeat who has been shirking his duty to his family for years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in sneaking
to move about in a sly or secret manner
given the multitude of auditoriums at the multiplex, it's not too difficult for underaged kids to shirk into R-rated movies
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shirking
The book opened a window on the lives of Silicon Valley’s Tech Bro culture, one that valued fierce competition, shirking of government rules and business growth above all else.
—
Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
California has the second-lowest homeownership rate in the country at 56%, and Haney said corporations shouldn’t be shirking real estate taxes in the midst of a housing crisis.
—Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
The three central male characters — Mike, Lou, and Orman — all converge on the archetype of the lone wolf, a dubious label the collaboration-shirking Lou has taken on in his precinct, and one his colleagues are decidedly over.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2026
By shirking their duty to maintain order and protect agents, these local officials endanger lives and undermine national security.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
Wife Swap explains this as Emily shirking her stay-at-home-mom responsibilities by ending up on a TV show.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Her dissent argues that the Court is shirking its duty to clarify constitutional law in capital cases, where individuals’ lives are on the line.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
All that seemed to be undone in an instant when Cristhian Mosquera’s sloppy backpass was followed by Gabriel shirking his defensive responsibilities, allowing Nick Woltemade to head home.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
By shirking the Democratic brand, Osborn has a shot at winning his race, as Cockburn points out, and may offer a model for other candidates attempting to dethrone Republicans in rural red states.
—Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 17 Mar. 2026
California has the second-lowest homeownership rate in the country at 56%, and Haney said corporations shouldn’t be shirking real estate taxes in the midst of a housing crisis.
—Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 24 Feb. 2026
The three central male characters — Mike, Lou, and Orman — all converge on the archetype of the lone wolf, a dubious label the collaboration-shirking Lou has taken on in his precinct, and one his colleagues are decidedly over.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Feb. 2026
By shirking their duty to maintain order and protect agents, these local officials endanger lives and undermine national security.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 12 Jan. 2026
Wife Swap explains this as Emily shirking her stay-at-home-mom responsibilities by ending up on a TV show.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025
Her dissent argues that the Court is shirking its duty to clarify constitutional law in capital cases, where individuals’ lives are on the line.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
All that seemed to be undone in an instant when Cristhian Mosquera’s sloppy backpass was followed by Gabriel shirking his defensive responsibilities, allowing Nick Woltemade to head home.
—Art De Roché, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
By shirking the Democratic brand, Osborn has a shot at winning his race, as Cockburn points out, and may offer a model for other candidates attempting to dethrone Republicans in rural red states.
—Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shirking
Verb
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Politicians could reduce their risk of infringing on someone's First Amendment rights by creating separate work and personal accounts and avoiding mixed-use accounts, the ruling states.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Overall, its candidates continue to lean left, but the party is mostly avoiding a tumble into the abyss.—
Henry Olsen,
Washington Post,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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CapRadio has disputed allegations of neglecting the tower.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 2026
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Section 3 and 4 deal with people convicted of abusing, endangering, or neglecting children sharing a primary residence with a child, unless such person is the parent of the child.—
Kaitlin McCallum,
Hartford Courant,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Where dancing on sticky living room floors, sneaking beers from your parents' refrigerator and bumping music on stereos were hallmarks of adolescence.—
Jane Onyanga-Omara,
USA Today,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Teenage boys sneaking to look at pornography is almost a rite of passage.—
Harriette Cole,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Arnel Belizaire, a member of Haiti's parliament, was arrested on charges including financing terrorism and conspiracy against state security after evading national police for two months, authorities said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
18 Mar. 2026
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South Windsor police have charged Rodriguez with evading responsibility, disobeying the signal of an officer, reckless driving, engaging police in pursuit and improper use of a marker, license or registration.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Sunderland are lurking and, perhaps for the first time under Howe’s management, Newcastle are in deficit, needing a response (yet again) after a chastening night in Europe.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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Wacky weather may still be lurking, but the ice on Indianapolis' concert calendar is starting to thaw.—
Domenica Bongiovanni,
IndyStar,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That’s a different kind of story than raiding a floating restaurant or escaping a marine base.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
16 Mar. 2026
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Emma Fritz of Extraordinary Journeys, who plans trips throughout South America, says her clients are escaping peak-season heat in the Northern Hemisphere by heading to wintry places below the equator, like the Andes Mountains to hit the slopes.—
Matt Ortile,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Similarly rewarding was slipping back into familiar older characters.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
18 Mar. 2026
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In it, Aaron is down to his underwear and is slipping into his clothes.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Steps on the other side lead down to a casual dining area and a family/media room with sliding glass doors spilling outside.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
19 Mar. 2026
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On our hike, Jessie Krebs scolds her boots for sliding on a slick, house-size boulder.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shirking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shirking. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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